Packing retainer for journal boxes



Dec. 20, 1938. V c, T RHPLEY 1 2,14LQ19 PACKING RETAINER FOR JOURNALBOXES Filed July 2, 1936 W1 1/ jg v1 I Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,141,019 PACKING RETAINER. FOR JOURNAL noxasCharles '1'. Ripley, Wilmette, m.

Application July z, 1936, Serial No. 88,601

4 Claims. (Cl. 308-89) This invention relates to journal boxes of thetype used on railway cars in which a packing is disposed in the boxunder the journal for keeping the journal lubricated.

The object of the invention is to provide an efllcient and inexpensivedevice, which can be readily put into and taken out of the journal box,for keeping the packing in its proper place.

The device of the invention is intended particularly for use withjournal box packings in which the waste and the springs interwoven withthe waste (when the latter are .used) are enclosed in a cloth envelopeor envelopes as disclosed in application of the present applicant filed5 January 25, 1935, Serial No. 3433 (U. S. Patent 2,049,225, July 28,1936); and in such case the device serves. not only as an aid in holdingthe packing element or elements against the under side of thejournal-aiding the springs, which are 20 distributed through the waste,in this respectbut prevents the flange or rib on the outer end of thejournal from cutting or wearing the envelope.

The device, however, might be used to advantage in arrangements wherethe packing was not enclosed in an envelope or envelopes. case thedevice would help to maintain the packing in its proper position andprevent it from working out into the front of the box and rolling out ofplace particularly in cold weather when the oil is sticky.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. l,

and

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the packing retainer.

The journal box as shown in the drawing is of a common type. The body ofthe box is shown at it and the cover at H. The journal I2 is formed withthe usual end flange l3. H represents the brass and I! the wedge whichis ordi- 45 narily formed with an opening II for convenience in removingthe wedge from the box when the brass is to be replaced or repaired. Themain body of packing, which preferably consists of cotton or wool wastel1 and coil springs i8 dis- 5 tributed therein and interwoven therewith,is enclosed in a soft and oil porous envelope l8 and is arranged underthe journal I! with the outer end of the envelope bearing against theend flange 13 of the journal. Arranged in the portion 55 of the journalbox outwardly of the journal is In such .pose consists preferably of aspring wire 22 bent to form legs 23, 23, preferably provided with loops24, 24 to increase the resiliency of the legs. The legs 23 are connectedby a cross piece 25, the middle portion 26 of which is preferably offsetso as to give an effectively wider bearing of the device on the plug ofpacking 20. The wire 22 is formed with angular and portions 21, 21 whichare adapted to extend into the opening it in v wedge IS. The device isproportioned so that it has to be sprung into place between the wedgeand the packing 20. That is, in this operative position it is under veryconsiderable spring pressure. By means of this device the end of theenvelope is adjacent the flange ii of the journal, is prevented fromoverlapping the flange and being cut or worn by the rotation of thejournal. The packing retainer also tends to keep the main 30 body ofpacking I'I, whether enclosed in an envelope or not, in contact with theJ ournal thereby increasing the efliciency of the packing as means fortransmitting lubricant to the journal. In cases particularly of packingnot. inclosed in an envelope the retainer keeps the packing in place andprevents it from working out toward the front end of the box and rollingwith the journal.

The spring retainer is interlocked with a non-' rotary portion of thejournal box assembly (the wedge in the present example) so that itcannot be rotated or displaced by movements of the journal or packingmaterial. The retainer will not be disturbed by the opening or closingof the lid H, and is so shaped and positioned as not to interfere withthe oiling of the packing. However, the retainer may be easily removedby flexing the legs and snapping the ends out of interlocked engagementwith the wedge, if the packing material is to be removed or replaced. 5

The intentionis to claim all variations and modifications of the devicesand combinations disclosed within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a journal box, journal,

brass and wedge, the latter formed with an opening in its outer end: alubricating packing in the box under the journal; 9. body of packingbearing against the aforesaid packing and extending beyond the end ofthe journal; and a spring packing retainer comprising a spring wire, theends of which are engaged in the opening in the wedge and the middleportion of which bears against said second-named body of packing.

2. In combination with a journal box,- journal, brass and wedge, thelatter formed with an opening in its outer end: a lubricating packing inthe box under and extending outwardly beyond the end of the journal; anda packing retainer consisting of a spring wire bent to form legs, amiddle portion to bear against the packing and end portion to entertheopening in said wedge.

3. In combination with a journal box, journal, brass and wedge, thelatter formed with an opening in its outer end: a lubricating packing inthe end: a lubricating packing in the box under the journal andcontained in one or more envelopes:

a body of packing bearing against the aforesaid packing and extendingbeyond the end of the journal: and a packing retainer consisting of awire bent to form spring legs, an offset middle portion to bear againstsaid last-named body of packing and end portions to enter the opening inthe wedge.

CHARLES T. RIPLEY.

